The Ending I Would Rewrite

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If you could change the ending of any book, which one would it be?

If I could change the ending of any book, I think I would struggle between two instincts, honoring the author’s intent and satisfying my own desire for resolution.

One book that came to mind when I saw today’s prompt is The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. It’s not because the ending is “bad,” but because it is so quietly heavy.

Santiago returns with nothing left but the bones of the great fish he fought so hard to catch. After all that struggle, all that endurance, all that dignity in suffering, the reward feels like loss.

And yet, maybe that is the point.

Still, if I could change the ending, I would want Santiago to return not just with the bones, but with something more tangible, something that speaks of restored strength, not just endurance remembered. The idea would not be to erase the struggle, but to show a clearer form of reward after it.

But life doesn’t always write endings like that.

Sometimes we fight our “great fish” and come back with evidence of the battle rather than visible victory. Maybe the real lesson is that the value is not only in what we bring back, but in who we become in the process.

As a writer, I realize I am not really trying to change Hemingway’s ending. I am trying to understand my own expectations of life’s endings. We often want closure that looks like triumph, but growth sometimes arrives quietly, even in what feels like loss.

So maybe I wouldn’t change the ending after all. Maybe I would just learn to read it differently.

Because not every ending that feels empty is truly without meaning.

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Steps of Purpose
Faith. Growth. Purpose.
Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew
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Praying for Venezuela: Hope in the Midst of Disaster

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Today our hearts are especially with the people of Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes that struck the nation just hours ago.

The country was hit by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, causing widespread destruction and leaving rescue workers racing against time to find survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

Early assessments from seismic experts warn that the eventual death toll could tragically rise into the tens of thousands, making this one of the worst natural disasters to strike Venezuela in generations.

Today, we pray for the families  searching for loved ones, those mourning unimaginable loss, the injured, the displaced, and the countless emergency workers and volunteers serving in the midst of devastation.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we lift the people of Venezuela before You in this hour of sorrow and uncertainty. Comfort those who grieve, protect those still in danger, and strengthen those who are exhausted from rescue and recovery efforts. Grant wisdom to leaders, courage to first responders, and provision for every family affected.

May Your peace be present in the midst of fear, Your hope shine in the darkness, and Your love be seen through every act of compassion and kindness.

In Jesus Name, Amen

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1

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Steps of Purpose
Faith. Growth. Purpose.
Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew
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Spiritual Lessons From Ordinary Things : The Umbrella

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An umbrella is only appreciated when the rain comes.
On sunny days, it is forgotten, left in a corner, hanging by the door, or quietly sitting in the car as if it has no purpose at all.

That is until the sky changes its mind.

And suddenly, what was ignored becomes essential. It does not stop the rain. It does not argue with the weather. It does not negotiate with the storm.
It simply provides shelter in the middle of what cannot be controlled.
The Lord Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:45 that the rain falls on the just and the unjust. In other words, storms are not selective. They arrive in every life. Sometimes they are expected. Often times they are not.

There are seasons that feel like sudden rain: unexpected challenges, emotional storms, financial pressure, or moments when life feels heavier than what you had strength for.

In those moments, we begin to realize something deeper: it is not always escape we need, but covering. Psalm 91 speaks of dwelling “in the secret place of the Most High” and abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. That image is not of a life without storms, but of a life with shelter in the storm.

God does not always remove us from difficulty immediately, but He does provide covering within it. He provides strength for the moment, peace in the pressure, and grace that somehow holds us together when we feel stretched thin.

And yes, sometimes that grace feels a bit like finding out your umbrella was in the car the whole time after you’ve already gotten completely soaked. (We’ve all been there. Or at least those of us who trust the weather a little too much.)

Another detail often missed is this: an umbrella must be opened to be effective.

Carrying it is not enough. Owning it is not enough. Even admiring it is not enough. It has to be intentionally opened.

In the same way, we are invited to come under God’s covering, not casually, but intentionally,through prayer, trust, surrender, and sometimes simply saying, “Lord, I need You right now.”

Isaiah 41:10 reminds us not to fear, because God strengthens, helps, and upholds us. That is not distant support; that is active covering.

The rain may still fall, but you are not uncovered. What you will realise when the storm passes is you were sustained all along, not because the rain stopped, but because you were kept through it.

And maybe, just maybe, next time you see an umbrella hanging by the door, you’ll smile, and remember you’ve got covering even before the clouds show up.

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Steps of Purpose
Faith. Growth. Purpose.
Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew
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Morning Prayer for Peace  – Start Your Day with God’s Calm and Presence

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Not every battle is visible.

Some battles happen quietly in the mind with worry, uncertainty, overthinking, unanswered prayers, and the pressure of carrying too much for too long.

If your heart feels restless this morning, pause for a moment.

You do not have to enter this day carrying everything on your own.

God offers peace that is deeper than circumstances and stronger than fear.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27

Peace is not the absence of problems. It is the presence of God in the middle of them.

You may not have every answer today.
You may not know exactly how everything will unfold.

But you can begin this day knowing that God is with you.

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for waking me up to another day.

Before I rush into responsibilities and distractions, I come before You seeking Your peace.

Quiet every anxious thought.

Calm every fear and every burden I have carried into this morning.

Help me release what I cannot control and trust You with what I cannot see.

Guard my mind from worry and my heart from discouragement.

Let Your presence surround me and remind me that I am never alone.

Give me peace in my decisions,
peace in my relationships,
peace in my thoughts,
and peace in my spirit.

Teach me to rest in Your promises and walk through this day with confidence and calm.

No matter what comes today, help me remember that You remain faithful.

I place this day into Your hands.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

May your heart be steady and your mind be filled with His peace today.

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Steps of Purpose
Faith. Growth. Purpose.
Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew
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#DailyPrayer#ChristianBlog
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I Speak English, French Creole, and Whatever Works in the Moment

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Which languages do you speak and how did that impact your life?

I speak English and French Creole and also have what I like to call “emergency French” and “emergency Spanish”. Its the kind you use when you absolutely need to make yourself understood, even if the grammar politely steps aside.

French Creole has been especially useful during my frequent visits to hospitals in Martinique for various medical examinations and procedures. It has a way of making unfamiliar situations feel a little more manageable when you can actually understand and respond without relying entirely on guesswork or gestures.

And my “emergency Spanish” definitely came in handy in Venezuela when I went to cover an international trade exposition many years ago. I managed to survive just fine, mostly through a mix of basic phrases, context clues, and a lot of smiling and nodding.

It’s funny how language works like that. You don’t always need perfection. Sometimes you just need enough to connect, communicate, and get through the moment.

If you think about it, from the Tower of Babel to the day the disciples spoke in different tongues, language has always been both a challenge and a miracle. So I’m not too worried about my “emergency French and Spanish.” I like to think it still gets the job done.

And if everything else breaks down, there’s still a whole collection of online translators doing their best to keep the conversation going.

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Steps of Purpose
Faith. Growth. Purpose.
Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew
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Spiritual Lessons From Ordinary Things: The Window

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A window is a quiet thing.

It does not speak. It does not move. It simply stands between two worlds. One side is where you are. The other side is what you can see.

Windows remind us that perspective matters.

Two people can stand in the same room and look through the same window, yet see completely different things. One may see limitation. The other may see possibility. One may see obstacles. The other may see opportunity.

The difference is not the window. The difference is the perspective.

Much of life depends on what we choose to focus on.

There are seasons when your “inside” feels tight, confined, or uncertain. You may feel stuck in circumstances you did not choose. Questions remain unanswered. Doors remain closed.

And yet, through faith, you are still able to look outward and see that your situation is not the end of your story.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Faith allows us to see beyond what is immediately in front of us. It reminds us that God is working even when we cannot yet see the outcome.

A window does not change the room, but it changes the view. Sometimes that is enough to keep hope alive.

Perhaps that is why Scripture calls us to lift our eyes.
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

When we focus only on our problems, they often appear larger than they are. But when we look toward God, we are reminded that He is greater than every challenge we face.

Windows also allow light to enter.

Even in closed spaces, light finds a way through what is transparent. And where light enters, darkness loses its authority.

I am reminded of the words of the Lord Jesus in John 8:12:
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

No matter how dark a room may seem, a single window can invite enough light to change everything.

There is another lesson hidden in a window.

Over time, windows collect dust, fingerprints, and grime. The view has not changed, but the clarity has.

Sometimes our spiritual vision becomes clouded by fear, disappointment, worry, or bitterness. We begin to see life through those things instead of through faith.

That is why we must continually bring our hearts before God and allow Him to renew our minds.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)

A clean window provides a clearer view.
A renewed mind provides a clearer perspective.

Perhaps today you do not need a new room. Maybe you just need a clearer view. What you see shapes what you believe and what you believe shapes how you endure.

So keep looking through the window of faith. The God who holds your future is already at work beyond what you can presently see.

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Steps of Purpose
Faith. Growth. Purpose.
Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew
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Faith Notes From Around the World: Malta

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Over the past week, I was looking through the list of countries where people read this blog from. Some are familiar to me, and others, I honestly don’t know much about them yet. That got me thinking in a simple way: What if I take one country each week, learn a bit about it, and share a short faith reflection inspired by it? So this is the start of a new weekly series – Faith Notes From Around the World.

This week we are highlighting Malta.

There’s something quietly powerful about Malta.

It’s a small island nation in the heart of the Mediterranean, sitting between Europe and North Africa. It’s been shaped by centuries of history. Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, Knights of St. John, and British influence have all left their mark.

You can feel that mix when you look at it.
Stone buildings that seem to carry memory in their walls. Narrow streets that wind like they’re telling stories. And the sea, always nearby, surrounding everything with deep blue stillness.

It’s beautiful, but not loud about it. And maybe that’s the point.

Malta doesn’t try to compete with the noise of the world. It simply exists  steady, layered, and quietly strong.

Life sometimes feels like that too.
It’s not always big. It isn’t always visible. It’s not always “announced.”

Just everyday faith. Everyday effort. Everyday breathing through the seasons of life.

But here’s the encouragement:
God is not only present in the loud places of the world. He is deeply present in the quiet ones too.

The Lord Jesus said even a sparrow does not fall unnoticed. So nothing about your life, no matter how ordinary it feels, is invisible to Him.

Even Malta’s geography preaches something:

Maybe that’s a reminder that significance is not always about scale.
Sometimes it’s about depth.

Also, let’s be honest, Malta has that “you blink and you’re basically in another town” energy.

Distances there feel like:
“You said you were going out…..you’re already back?”

Small places do make life feel a little more connected, and a little more immediate.

Wherever you are reading this from Malta or anywhere else, don’t underestimate your season because it feels small.

God is not measuring your life by size.
He is moving through it with presence.
Sometimes the most meaningful work He does happens in the quiet, layered, unassuming places.

Just like Malta.

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Steps of Purpose
Faith. Growth. Purpose.
Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew
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To Someone Younger: Don’t Rush the Journey

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What’s the best advice you’d give to someone younger than you?

If I had to talk to someone younger than me, I’d probably say something like this:
Stop trying to “figure your whole life out” like it’s a math exam you’re already late for.

Honestly, most of us are just walking around doing our best impression of people who know what they’re doing. Even the “serious” adults. Don’t be fooled.

One thing I wish someone made clearer earlier is this: God isn’t waiting for you to arrive at some perfect version of yourself before He works with you. He’s already in the middle of your messy, confused, slightly-overthinking life doing things you can’t see yet.

So breathe.

You’re not behind. You’re just becoming.

Please don’t ignore the small stuff. The way you treat people when you’re tired. The choices you make when nobody’s watching. The quiet prayers you whisper when you don’t even feel “spiritual.” That’s where your life is actually being built.

Also, you’re going to change your mind about a lot of things like careers, people, plans, even things you were once so sure God told you. Don’t panic when that happens. Growth sometimes looks like “I thought I knew, but maybe I didn’t.”

And if I can be a little humorous about it, stop treating your timeline like it’s in competition with other people. Most people don’t actually know what they’re doing. Some just have better lighting and filters on Instagram.

But seriously,God is not in a rush, even when you are. And somehow He still manages to get you where you need to be even when you take the scenic route, the wrong turn, and the “what was I thinking?” detour.

So yes, trust Him, keep going, and try not to overcomplicate a life He’s already walking with you through.

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Steps of Purpose
Faith. Growth. Purpose.
Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew
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Spiritual Lessons From Ordinary Things: The Pencil

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A pencil looks simple.

Wood, lead and an eraser on top.

There is nothing really impressive about it at first glance. It is easily replaced, easily broken, and easily overlooked. Most people would walk past a pencil without giving it a second thought, unless they suddenly need one and cannot find it.

And yet, in the right hands, a pencil becomes a tool of creation.

Words are written. Ideas are formed. Plans are drawn. Futures are sketched out on blank pages that once held nothing.

But what makes a pencil truly powerful is not just what it creates; it is what it is willing to go through.

For a pencil to be useful, it must be sharpened. That process removes what is unnecessary. It can feel uncomfortable. It shortens the pencil. It changes its shape.

But it also reveals its purpose.

Sometimes life feels like that sharpening process. You feel reduced, pressed and reshaped by experiences you did not choose. Yet in God’s hands, even the uncomfortable seasons are not wasted.

The prophet Isaiah reminds us:

“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” – Isaiah 64:8 (KJV)

God is always shaping His people. Even when we do not understand the process, He does.

And the pencil teaches something else: it leaves a mark, not for its own glory, but for the message it carries.

In the same way, our life writes something every day through our actions, our words, our faith, and our response to difficulty.

The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:16:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Like a pencil leaving words on a page, our lives leave impressions on the people around us.

A pencil does not have to be perfect to be useful. It simply has to stay in the hand of the one using it. The same is true for us when we place our lives in God’s hands.

The Bible says:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)

And even when mistakes are made, there is an eraser on the pencil reminding us that restoration is possible, and that God is not finished with the page.

The eraser does not pretend the mistake never happened. It simply gives you another chance to continue writing.

As believers, we have an even greater promise:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9 (KJV)

What matters most is not how simple you may feel.

It is what is being written through you.

And even when life feels like a sharpening season, we can trust that God is working for our good and His glory.

Romans 8:28 takes us to the end of today’s message

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

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Steps of Purpose
Faith. Growth. Purpose.
Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew
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#ThePencil #FaithInProcess #ChristianGrowth #SpiritualRefining
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Three Small Worlds, Arms Linked Tight (A Playful Street Scene Poem)

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Three small nations, their arms linked tight,
standing tall as if claiming ownership of the light
Queens of the sidewalk, embracing grace,
somber looks on every single face.

I believe on is thinking, “Don’t you dare
mess with my hair or go anywhere near snack in there.”
One looks like she’s concocting schemes,
great hopes and and even greater dreams.

The third one holds it all together,
braving the dust and unpredictable weather
Like the others, she is making it quite clear, quite true:
“We never posed…… the camera somehow just knew.”

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Steps of Purpose
Faith. Growth. Purpose.
Mervin Fitzgerald Matthew
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